Cost of Living in Atlantic City, NJ
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Atlantic City, NJ to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Atlantic City, NJ?
With a price level of 98.9 (U.S. average = 100), Atlantic City, NJ is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs cost about the same as the national average; everyday goods cost about the same as the national average; utilities run 9% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Atlantic City, NJ vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.9 | −1.1% |
| Housing | 98.7 | −1.3% |
| Goods | 99.8 | −0.2% |
| Utilities | 109.2 | +9.2% |
| Other services | 97.9 | −2.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Atlantic City, NJ
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,339 | $53,560/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,493 | $59,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,848 | $73,920/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,537 | $101,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,736 | $109,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Atlantic City, NJ
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Atlantic City, NJ | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,500 | $33,253 |
| $60,000 | $59,300 | $48,099 |
| $80,000 | $79,100 | $61,628 |
| $100,000 | $98,900 | $74,296 |
| $150,000 | $148,300 | $105,372 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, New Jersey 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Atlantic City, NJ's median wage of $47,520 takes home about $3,274 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,493, which is 46% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,781 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Atlantic City, NJ
- Federal income tax$3,522
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,946
- Medicare (1.45%)$689
- New Jersey income tax$1,078
- Take-home pay$39,285
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.53% state
Highest-paying jobs in Atlantic City, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $99,320 | $74,565 | $75,427 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,220 | $39,060 | $39,512 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,970 | $38,125 | $38,566 |
| Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner | $40,690 | $34,168 | $34,563 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| Security Guard | $39,900 | $33,561 | $33,949 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $39,520 | $33,269 | $33,653 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $38,160 | $32,223 | $32,596 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $37,840 | $31,978 | $32,347 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,360 | $30,060 | $30,408 |
| Cashier | $34,100 | $29,070 | $29,406 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $33,270 | $28,418 | $28,746 |
| Gambling Dealer | $33,000 | $28,206 | $28,532 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in New Jersey cities
Half of New Jersey’s 4,285,720 workers earn less than $58,570 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $39,400–$96,720 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Trenton, NJ stretches a paycheck furthest, while Atlantic City, NJ is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $61,430 | 112.6 | $2,378 | 57% | $1,763 | $44,147 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102.6 | $1,520 | 41% | $2,177 | $43,260 |
| Allentown, PA | $48,990 | 100.0 | $1,365 | 41% | $2,000 | $40,397 |
| Trenton, NJ | $63,490 | 103.2 | $1,545 | 36% | $2,725 | $49,655 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $47,520 | 98.9 | $1,493 | 46% | $1,781 | $39,739 |
| Vineland, NJ | $48,190 | 96.0 | $1,375 | 41% | $1,940 | $41,457 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Atlantic City, NJ vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City, NJ | 98.9 | $1,493 | $47,520 | 168,700 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 101.1 | $1,537 | $55,310 | 169,430 |
| Lubbock, TX | 91.3 | $974 | $42,130 | 166,780 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 100.2 | $1,467 | $46,490 | 170,820 |
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | $1,123 | $45,130 | 171,140 |
| Peoria, IL | 91.2 | $818 | $49,590 | 166,020 |
| Montgomery, AL | 89.7 | $870 | $44,950 | 165,550 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Atlantic City, NJ expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area are 98.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 98.7%. It is the #98 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Atlantic City, NJ?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,314 in Atlantic City, NJ (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,520.
Can you afford Atlantic City, NJ on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,520 median wage takes home about $3,274 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,493 would take 46% of that.
How much is rent in Atlantic City, NJ?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Atlantic City, NJ are $1,339 for a studio, $1,493 for one bedroom, $1,848 for two bedrooms and $2,537 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Atlantic City, NJ
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $99,320
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,840
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $39,900
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $40,250
- Waiter and Waitress — $38,160
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,270
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $40,690
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $39,520
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Gambling Dealer — $33,000
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $35,360
- Cashier — $34,100
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,220
- Office Clerks, General — $45,970